MEMO: Suspension Notices & Accommodating Immunization Appointments & Requests

TO:  Health Care Professionals in the Niagara Region

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease program, Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services

REFERENCE: Suspension Notices & Accommodating Immunization Appointments & Requests

DATE:  January 21, 2020

Suspension Day is March 24, 2020

• Similar to previous years, Public Health is mailing approximately 5,000 suspension orders
• Students aged 6 to 17 years will be suspended unless records of up-to-date immunization or a valid exemption is provided
• Once the suspension takes effect on March 24, Public Health will only accept written documentation of immunization from parents.  Please be prepared to provide the client with written documentation to submit to Public Health.

Accommodating Student Immunization Requests 

• Your office may receive urgent calls from parents and legal guardians asking for an immunization appointment or to discuss immunization needs
• Where possible, please try to accommodate the requests for immunizations.  Public Health is unable to immunize everyone; depending on clinic location, the average wait time for an appointment at one of our clinics is several weeks.  

Ordering Vaccine & Requesting Immunization Records

• Please ensure your office has enough vaccine to accommodate this potential increased demand
• The teenage tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster is due 10 years after the school entry booster
• To order more vaccine, please use the General Vaccine Order Form and the School Program Vaccine Order Form
• Please allow sufficient time when requesting immunization records; 3 business days is desirable as the volume of requests is high and responding to immediate requests is not always possible

Exemptions

• A Statement of Medical Exemption form must be completed by the physician and returned to Public Health if the vaccine is deemed to be unsafe or unnecessary for the client because of:
  • Laboratory confirmation of immunity or prior disease
  • Contraindication to health (e.g. allergy to a component of the vaccine)
  • Clinical diagnosis of prior disease
• Other reasons not to vaccinate require a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit, which must be completed by the parent/legal guardian along with an education session facilitated through Public Health

For More Information

• Contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7396